NHL playoffs: Jack Eichel play...

There is a timeline where Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel developed into bitter rivals somewhere in the NHL universe. At the top of the 2015 draft, both were regarded as blue-chip prospects. One Canadian and one American franchise were intended to revive failing businesses from their home nations. If Eichel had surprised in the opposite direction and McDavid had slightly underperformed expectations, they would have met in the middle. There is a time period in the NHL world where Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid became fierce competitors. Both players were regarded as blue-chip prospects at the top of the 2015 draft. It was the goal of one Canadian and one American franchise to turn around failing companies in their own countries. They would have met in the middle if McDavid marginally underperformed expectations and Eichel surprised in the opposite direction. In addition to the even-strength statistics, the Golden Knights have controlled the play while Eichel has been on the ice, but the Oilers with McDavid cannot say the same. All of this is not meant to imply that Eichel has overtaken McDavid as the best player in the world overnight. These small-sample numbers are unexpected. We would still wager on the Oilers captain to swing the scales in his favor over the whole series. But it also demonstrates how high the Golden Knights' potential is at this particular time. Their chances of winning the series are quite high if their best center is matching McDavid shift for shift. In this series, Edmonton's top-line talent, led by McDavid and the scorching Leon Draisaitl, is its strongest suit. Since Vegas has more depth, the Golden Knights can be certain that the rest of their lineup will outperform Edmonton's bottom players if Eichel even comes close to matching the top players on the Oilers. At least on Monday, Eichel displayed the necessary skills with a beautiful goal and two important assists. Eichel has made it simple to forget that this is his first NHL playoff run after spending so many years ineffectively in Buffalo with 10 points in nine postseason games. Not only is he capable of the job, but he goes above and above. The 26-year-old is too late to unseat McDavid as the top player selected in the 2015 draft, but if he continues to perform at this level, he may win the pleasant consolation prize of ending the playoff hopes of the only player selected before him eight years prior.